World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor PC

World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor PC. To scrap with the greatest army Draenor has ever known, you will need your own forces and your own fortress. Build a mighty garrison: an enduring home base integrated seamlessly with the world, not a hiding place far from the tumult. Customize it with functional structures like farms, stables, armories, workshops and more. Lay down trade routes and unlock new quests, gear and pets to support your war for Draenor. Recruit stalwart followers to man your base, and send them to loot dungeons, fulfill missions, and craft items, even if you’re offline. Tame a deadly realm, and build an unbreakable monument to victory

Not perfect, but it is, and I know this has been said before, the best one yet, if you look past the nostalgia glasses. I would not normally give a 10/10, but all the people that ragequit WoW after 3 days of serverproblems giving 0, this kinda evens it out.

This expansion has been fantastic so far, the music, atmosphere, storylines, and quests have been phenomenal. The dungeons look fantastic and are of some difficulty which is a massive improvement over the last few expansions. Ground mounts only has been a great success because the zones look so amazing and traverse well.

The garrisons have been a fantastic addition because they add a ton of unique gameplay, and features - it's like pet battles but 10x better. One thing i'd hoped for is a more alt-friendly garrison approach.

I changed my initial 2/10 to a perfect 10. Now that the glitches are away, this game is simply the BEST WOW since Vanilla.

Quests are crazy dynamic, Challenge is back. The art is stunning, the music is awesome and quite frankly I don't know any other game that took me by surprise as this one,... except perhaps Vanilla WOW...

Good God what changes Blizzard has made. World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor PC.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U. Duke it out with your favorite Nintendo characters in Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Wii U.

SOOO GOOD, i actually have amiibos with that, and this is awesome, hours and hours of enterteinment, I found the game awesome, all my friends actually have it, and all us say the same, we love it

Amazing game, may even be the first time a smash game gets a goty award as it is filled with content a ton of new modes and characters( 8 player smash is awesome) and stages. It is truly a next gen game. 

I think everyone knew this would be hit with awesome review scores however the real test is how much it helps the wii u, and I hope it helps it a lot

Super smash brothers did everything the last games did but made it 10x better. from the amazing new character selection to the mind blowing stages the game was a blast to play and is a must buy for wii u owners. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U

Grand Theft Auto V PlayStation 4

Grand Theft Auto V PlayStation 4. The sprawling sun-soaked metropolis of Los Santos is chock full of self-help coaches, starlets and C-List celebrities, once on top of the media world, now struggling to stay relevant in time of economic malaise and lowest-common-denominator reality TV. Amidst this madness, three unique criminals plan their own chances of survival and success: Franklin, a street-level hustler in search of opportunities for serious money; Michael, an ex-con whose "retirement" is a less rosy than he hoped it would be; and Trevor, a violent dude driven by the chance for a quick high and the next big score. Nearly out of options, the crew risks it all in a series of daring and dangerous heists that could set them up for life - one way or the other.

Small things are important. GTA V has a lot of fine details graphics good, pop response good also best gaming experience. If you have PlayStation 4 you must have this classic!

This is not merely a port , many new things have been added into the game , still filled with believe-able and powerful characters and a magical vibe found in Rockstar's masterpiece improved and remastered.

GTA V was arguably one of the most anticipated and best games of the last generation and it's re-release on the PS4 is highly welcomed but I wouldn't say it's an absolutely essential purchase for everyone, even those who particularly enjoyed it on the PS3. 

Firstly; the game looks absolutely astonishing on the current gen with improved textures, additional effects and greater draw distances. The city looks and feels simply incredible and with a greater number of cars and people; it really adds to the atmosphere. There is also a new first-person mode which adds an entirely new dimension to the gameplay and is implemented very well although it wont appeal to everyone as GTA is easier and preferred in 3rd person for many players. These factors however do not warrant an immediate purchase. The game is pretty much the same as before and some may feel GTA V belongs as a memory of the last gen and a fitting finale of what was once possible. No doubt the step up is jaw-dropping in places but this doesn't enhance the story or its missions in any which way. 

Committed players may opt to hop onto the multiplayer immediately where they left off but I find this aspect rather shallow. Rockstar will certainly add new and free content down the line but unless you are completely dedicated and enthused by this; you'd probably want to overlook the game for something else especially if you don't have the desire to experience the story again.

Overall; GTA V is still one of the best and most memorable games ever made. Die-hard fans who are still engaged with interest in the MP aspect should certainly purchase but others who aren't so excited should happily look to the future. The game looks staggering but this doesn't constitute to a must-buy even in today's graphics-emphasised era. This game costs full price and even more than the original did on release day. Many won't feel value for money in the product despite the games representing a very generous price for what is on offer. I think gamers will feel a bit burnt out after the time they spent on the game previous and unless you're as excited for the game as you were just over a year ago; you could probably happily avoid this and look at other fantastic titles out now and on the horizon. This however doesn't take away anything that Rockstar have achieved with the game in its time and regardless; GTA V on the PS4 is still a wonderful achievement in gaming that deserves another release. Grand Theft Auto V PlayStation 4.

Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Xbox One

Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Xbox One. Minecraft: Xbox One Edition is a game about placing blocks to build anything you can imagine and was revealed at E3 that it will be coming to the Xbox One.

My kids love this, downloaded and played from day one. The ability to play split side by side is awesome, no fighting for whos turn it is. I also purchase a couple packs, a skin pack for my son who wanted to be a squid and the candy texture pack for my daughter who loves pink. This is how games should be, low cost, download, buy extras for $1 or $2. Rather than $90 and $30 DLC items. Im sure if this game was $80 I still would have purchased it, but its worthy of a 10 score for value, playability, replayability and minecraft awesomeness. 

One of the best games ever made, which is why so many people are playing it. Massive maps and eight player online have made it to the consoles. That joined in with the smart and easy to use crafting system the X1 and PS4 versions now have a leg up on the pc version of the game. The multiplayer is simple to get into and adds so much joy to a already great game. Do what you want and be a king in your own world, build shape, and destroy at your will this is what makes minecraft one of the best games of all time

A survival game that has more depth to it than most would ever imagine. The game has potential that is only limited by the imagination of the developers and those playing it. I Love what they have so far, and can't wait to see where all all leads. I would like to see a skin pack that provided a more realistic look to the blocks, but this is purely cosmetic and nothing that would change the game in any meaningful way. 

Highly recommended for all ages, and if you're not into the survival side of it, you can just create things in peaceful mode.Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Xbox One.

Minecon 2015 is happening this summer

Minecon 2015 is happening this summer. Mojang took a pass on Minecon last year, but as promised the festival celebrating all things Minecraft is coming back for 2015. The studio has announced that Minecon 2015 will take place this summer in the fair realm of the UK, specifically July 4-5 at the ExCel London Exhibition and Conference Center.

Tickets to Minecon 2015 will go on sale in February, in two separate batches of 5000 tickets each, with access to discounted hotel room pricing included with each ticket purchase. Mojang will begin taking applications to be a volunteer "Minecon Agent" next week, while submissions for panel ideas can be made from early March. Minecon 2015 is happening this summer.

"If you like Minecraft, and you like people who like Minecraft, you’ll probably like Minecon," Mojang COO Vu Bui wrote. "It’s THE place to see all the cool Mojangstas you fancy, meet people who love Minecraft maybe even as much as you do, and attend panels and events full of YouTube creators and a ton of other talented folks!"

There's not much more in the way of detail at this point, but Mojang said more information will be released in the next couple of weeks.

Game of Thrones: Episode Two - The Lost Lords PC

Game of Thrones: Episode Two - The Lost Lords PC. The Lost Lords is the second of six installments in the Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series. 

I’m still waiting for things to kick into high gear and truly take hold of me, but chapter two of House Forrester’s tale leaves me in no doubt that such a moment is coming. Game of Thrones: Episode Two - The Lost Lords PC.

Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis PlayStation 4

Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis PlayStation 4. Chrysalis is an introduction to the world of Life is Strange. You’ll see Max and Chloe reunite and you’ll make important choices that will influence their destiny. You will observe some of the short-term consequences of those choices but know that there are also mid and long-term repercussions that will pan out over the course of the later episodes, in a butterfly effect manner. 

Here is a game very promising and with a different proposal. It's not like the psychological thriller of walking dead (yet?), with choices of life and death (maybe yet), but its a game that make you sympathize with the problems and obstacles that Max have to deal with, maybe because the environment of high school and teenager problems. The plot is very good and has the potential to be a very impressive story. 

I really enjoyed the high school problems, even being a cliche its made in a different way than the usual thanks to the possibilities of change the course of action and I hope the next episodes will bring the impact of the choices from the first chapter. 

The soundtrack is amazing and I'm not ashamed to say that I bought the game thanks to the trailer and the soundtrack in it. The graphics are beautiful and not too heavy, there is no try to make a perfect graphic, instead there is an art concept and is gorgeous. 

I know its only the first chapter, but I'm too anxious to the next to come. 

March come fast please! Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis PlayStation 4.

Dying Light PlayStation 4

Dying Light PlayStation 4. During the day you will explore the city in search of provisions and weapons. When the night falls, however, this troubled world undergoes a dramatic transformation that gives the gameplay a new dimension. You, as a hunter by day, become the hunted. The infected increase their strength, but something more sinister lurks in the dark to begin its prowl. 

Im playing the pre order, this is actually like 10 times better than Dead Island series. The story is strong compared to Dead Island, the Parkour matches and sometimes is even better than Mirror Edge's. The Combat is actually awesome, incredible addictive. When you go alone to the city it makes you thrill , this game is actually good, nothing like people were saying. 

Graphics on PS4 are amazing, this is one of the best looking game so far on PS4 catalog. 

Physics and ambience are absolutely superb at this title. Ive played about 2 hours and i can say this is a good game, it could get to the point that it will be boring, but lets hope it does not happen. Dying Light PlayStation 4.

Dragon Age Inquisition Review

Although initially the RPGs were very difficult and required a lot of involvement, the modern RPGs are much more appealing and gamer friendly. This is the main reason why more and more people are trying to play them, and with so many great RPGs nowadays you can't go wrong! Dragon Age Inquisition is the latest installment in the fabled Dragon Age series, but unlike the previous entries, this game allows us to see an immense game world, as we follow an impressive story that reacts to our choices.

Story

Dragon Age Inquisition places us in the middle of a battle between the mages and the Templars in which there's no clear winner. However, in the beginning of the game a large explosion takes place and opens a rift that spawns demons, and this changes the course of things immensely. We play the role of an inquisitor that tries to destroy the rift and all the smaller ones that appear throughout the land, in an effort to bring peace once again to the wonderful world of Thedas. Of course, there are lots of twists and turns as you progress but overall Dragon Age Inquisition manages to provide you with a wonderful story that will keep you glued to the screen.

Gameplay

Unlike Dragon Age 2, Inquisition allows us to explore a massive game world that does have a lot of inspiration from the previous game, but which also manages to bring a plethora of new stuff as well. First of all, we have the dragons which are much more detailed and harder to defeat, in fact they are so large that you will need to attack different parts of the body, each one with its own health bar. Battling a dragon is one of the hardest, yet the most rewarding things you can do in Dragon Age Inquisition, and this truly tests your skill like never before.

But this isn't all you do in Dragon Age Inquisition. You get to explore the Hinterlands as well as numerous other regions of Thedas, and these are filled with quests. Thankfully, the quests are varied and they allow you to go through the region in a natural way, something that helps the overall experience a lot.

We found character creation to be very interesting as well, in fact you can choose from 4 different races, each one with its ups and downs that can be felt as you play. However, what makes Dragon Age Inquisition really worth it is the combat. Although the previous game didn't have the tactical cam, now this has made a triumphant return and as such you have the opportunity to use it whenever you see fit, although you can disable it too.

Combat is refreshing and quite strategic, especially when you battle the bosses, because you need to carefully plan the next move if you want to succeed. This is a very important thing, because without planning it would be impossible to defeat the enemies with large health bars such as bosses or dragons for example.

If you explore the land you can create camps where you can upgrade your items, craft new ones and so on. Camps also allow you to travel faster, so by creating camps you will have an even better opportunity to survive in the harsh environment. Camps are also great for creating military attacks, espionage or commerce.

On top of that, if you want, you can import saves from the previous game, and this will impact the story. Although it isn't necessary, this is definitely a thing that is most welcome in this regard, especially if you are a fan of the series.

You get 8 companions during the game and even though you can use 3 at a time, each one of them has an interesting story and they are so nicely done that you will find yourself switching between them often just to find out more about them and their story. However, adding different types of characters in your party is essential, because you want their abilities to compliment yours if you want to get the best results!

Graphics and sounds

Dragon Age Inquisition is one of the best looking RPGs to date. The massive game world is nicely portrayed and it simply shines, not to mention that the character design is also stellar and even the animations work great. Everything blends seamlessly in order to provide a one of a kind place to explore. Also, we need to mention the fact that you can now, once more, see the blood remaining on the character clothing, which is a trademark of the Dragon Age series.

When it comes to sounds, there's not that much to say other than the fact that the soundtrack is filled with epic music that always keeps you pumped with adrenalin. Also, the voice acting is amazing, with each character being portrayed in a natural way!

Conclusion

Dragon Age Inquisition manages to combine all the best RPG ideas and features into a single game, and thus it offers us one of the best RPG experiences that we played in years. With a massive game world, lots of quests as well as impressive character customization and companions you can relate to, Dragon Age Inquisition is a game in which you can easily pour in hundreds of hours and never regret even a single second!

Fruitoids Slots - YGGDrasil Review

The amazing team of developers from YGGDrasil Gaming managed to push the limits once more when they introduced Fuitoids. A video slot game to remember. It all starts in an alien environment where you can find all sorts of exotic fruits that you've probably never seen before. The game is fully 3D and while the graphics are amazing there is one more thing that you should know, the sound effects are even better. You can hear the normal slot game FX sounds, but on top of that there is also the music that changes as you spin the reels.

In case you've played the Winterberries game in the past, then you are already familiar with this, as it holds almost the same features and gameplay. It takes just a few spins to become more familiar with how everything works and after that you can even make the switch to the real money account. There is a very promising payout that is situated at 96.7% and placing the bets is easy, especially since you even have the chance to do it as a casual player, with small amounts of money or you could do it as a high roller and place wagers that could be worth even a hundred Euros.

One of the special feature of Fruitoids Slots that is able to bring you better pays and a lot of fun is the freeze and re-spin. The exotic fruits will simply freeze and after that the reels can start spinning automatically once again. In case you are getting symbols that are similar to the frozen ones, then they will become sticky just like the others and the reels will spin again. This feature can add up to some nice winnings and since it gets triggered very fast, it won't take long before you start seeing it happen.

This exotic fruits game is not offering a progressive jackpot, but instead of that you can find plenty of modern features like scatter, multipliers and free spins. There are 5 reels and you can always activate up to 25 pay-lines. It takes just a little bit of time to load in your browser and after that you can just let the fun begin. If you register for the right online casino, then you have the chance even to receive a great bonus on sign up that you could be using to spin the reels for this game and get some great payouts.

Gamewad: Counter Strike Unleashed

Online gaming is a concept which is growing at a rapid pace and this trend shows no signs of stopping. In order to fuel this pace gamers require a platform from which to access their favorite multiplayer game. One such platform is Gamewad which is designed to attract gamers, mainly Counter Strike enthusiasts, from all around the world. It is a global platform which is determined to take the hype of Counter Strike to a whole new level. This game has served to be the life and soul of the gaming industry and it comes equipped with its own independent fan following.

Gamewad - what it offers

Gamewad is an online platform which has been developed by former gamers themselves which shows that the ones operating it know what they are doing. These gamers have made this online platform while bearing in mind the need and nature of gamers, particularly those who love this particular game. Gamewad does not have a joining fee; users just need to sign in thorough Steam in order to access the server.

Once signed in they are able to access all aspects of the game. The great part of this platform is that it has been developed by individuals who share a passion for gaming.

Fuels Competition

This online platform is designed to provide its customers with all their gaming requirements in one place. This server helps gamers develop their skills by giving them a platform that allows them to compete with players from around the globe. This includes learning new tricks and to think faster but most importantly it serves to increase their competitive spirit, which is essentially what this game is all about.

The right map for the right purpose

In order to practice their skills the gamers must choose the right map. For instance, to practice a bomb defusing map gamers should choose a map like 'dust 2' as this is one of the best and the most popular map for this purpose. Similarly, in order to practice their sniping skills gamers the map of 'India' can serve as a great means of doing so. Furthermore to practice their skills in one on one combat players should opt for 'aim headshot' or 'ice world' maps, as these are designed solely for this purpose.

Murdered: Soul Suspect PC Game Review

Murdered: Soul Suspect is an adventure game (Yes, that genre which you've nearly forgotten!), and it really does come close to what the real fans of the genre would enjoy. Naturally, it can hardly be compared to Syberia or The Longest Journey, but playing this one can bring you a couple of hours' worth of fun... if you're not too picky.

In this game, you play police inspector Ronan O'Connor, who's... well - dead.

The plot and the main idea are cool. Generally speaking, paying a ghost that can make things happen in the real, the physical world is awesome. Especially in an adventure game. The other unique thing is that - Hello! - you have no zombie-like, Resident Evil-like, war-like etc. events happening to you. Whatever enemy you meet and have to "fight", is actually not there to kill you! Yes, (SPOILER) you can just run away from them... All NPCs are somewhat low on carb obviously, as they do cover a really small space. Even if you defeat a demon in the same room where another one of them is, the second guy won't pay you any attention.

The romantic drama - you have a wife named Julia, who's been the reason for your changing lives. Hence, her death causes you to feel quite blue and go into action with much less brains and a lot of aggression. This is also, I guess, the main reason for us (playing as him) to go to the first scene where we end-up dead.

My opinion? I like this as much as I can; I mean... many of us need to have something tragic happening in a person's life, just so we can feel them close. I find romance useless for me, but for a game with the scopes and goals set by the producers, it's obvious that this kind of thing must be there. What I liked (see second sentence in this paragraph) is that they didn't make her pregnant or turn him into a whining fatherly figure.

The real drama: Salem is a huge nest for witches and well, being a tough guy there can't possibly keep you safe from the witchcraft, the witch hunts and everything else that happened there in the past. You're even a more suitable victim for an influential enemy to get than a simple girl would be.

Twists and plot lines are finely incorporated in this game and it's easy to like it. The only thing you need to know when purchasing this game is that - it's an old-school adventure game with a whodunnit feel and a lot of cool, laid-back thinking time and exploration zones. This is no Far Cry, no Uncharted, no Resident Evil. It's also not Aura or Myst, though.

The gameplay on the other hand is really basic and I love it! With the only exceptions being the demons you need to eradicate, it's all a simple first-person point-and-click adventure but in a 3D world. You have hardly any reason to fret and make mistakes. The only gameplay related issues, though, is the lack of real puzzles. Seems like it was either too expensive (more them making a 3D version of a sheriff-like police inspector in his full attire, cigarette and smoke included... as a ghost) or too hard for the team at Airtight, but..yes - a real adventure game needs a puzzle or two (at least) before getting action-feeling features.

Just so you know...

A quite famous gaming website's review of the game says: "The only way to dispose of Murdered's genuinely frightening soul-sucking demons is to get immediately behind them, and the only way to get immediately behind them is to hide in the residue of individual ghost souls, which are tightly packed together and therefore create a sort of teleportation system for Ronan. "

Here's the quote source (I wouldn't advise you to click this, but being ethical asks I link to the source).

Well, this is quite wrong. For one reason, as I spoilt already, you can run away from them. For another reason - you can hide in walls. If you don't come in their range of visibility when they're turning, you can just come out of the wall and "exorcise" them from this world.

One thing you must know, though: Once the ritual was not performed right, these creeps will follow you though walls and stairs until you go outside of their range.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Halo, for many PlayStation gamers, would seem to be an unobtainable franchise. Of course Microsoft would never port their precious baby to Sony's consoles, but that doesn't mean that Sony can't make their own first person IP. In 2004, Sony decided to do just that and released Killzone. With three PS3 releases and the obligatory PSP and Vita tie-ins under it's belt, the franchise has still never surpassed mediocrity. The mundane shooting mechanics and sloppy controls made many games of the series a pass for most consumers. With the new PlayStation 4 console, can the newest iteration of Sony's FPS franchise compete with Master Chief?

With Killzone Shadow Fall, you'll be playing as Lucas. You'll start his journey when he's just five years old and escaping his home to reach another part of his home planet. Without giving too much away, you'll be influenced to join the military to fight the good fight against the Helghast. Rising through the ranks within the appropriately named Shadow Academy, Lucas will become a Sam Fischer like special operations unit.

The highlight of the entire campaign is actually the very first mission. As Lucas you're sent in to blow up various buildings that are crucial to the Helghast. What makes this mission so special is the open landscape much like the original Halo. You can choose what objective to go after as soon as your boots hit the ground. This mission, like the others you'll find in Killzone Shadow Fall, is absolutely gorgeous. The way the trees sway and the light beams through the trees will make you glad you have a next generation console.

Unfortunately, after that very first mission, the rest of the campaign falls flat. With enough action movie clichés to make your eyes roll, Killzone Shadow Fall is essentially a video game version of a Michael Bay movie. Depending on what you think of that statement may ultimately sway your opinion about the game, but for me there wasn't any reason to play through the mundane campaign again other than finding lost secret documents to earn more trophies. Amazing visuals will only carry software so far.

Actually playing the game is also mixed bag. If you've played Halo, Battlefield, Call of Duty or even a Rainbow Six game, you'll feel right at home with the newest Killzone. Most of the controls feel identical to other hit shooters. One of my biggest gripes with the game is how heavy the guns actually feel while shooting. Turning your weapon left to right feels sluggish and unresponsive compared to other shooters. This unfortunately has plagued the series since the first game. There also wasn't enough variety when it came to actual weapons either, and what is available in the game's arsenal doesn't really sell the idea that this is all supposed to be taking place in the future.

What is new with Killzone is your robot companion the OWL. With your mechanical companion, you'll swipe the PlayStation 4's touchpad in various directions to command the OWL to do various tasks. You can send your droid to attack enemies, or even stun them with a massive EMP shock. When the fighting gets tense, the OWL was a great ally to have in the midst of battle. There are sections of the game when you can use the OWL to send out a zip line to either ascend or descent a high position. Unfortunately, I never used this more than five times during the single player campaign. It would've been nice to be able to use it more effectively during gameplay.

After you finish the entire campaign (about ten hours give or take) you'll find that Killzone Shadow Fall has a very narrow selection of alternative game modes, and is limited to either the single player campaign or online multiplayer. While playing the multiplayer mode, it quickly became apparent that this game has only the most standard online game types to choose from. The only highlight to online play was that the game's objectives would change mid-match. A novel concept, and well executed, just not enough to make the game's multiplayer stand out. It would've been nice to see them add some more customization options for a player's character other than which scope to choose for your gun. Overall, the entire package seems incredibly bland (gorgeous visuals aside), and it's painfully obvious that this game was a launch title.

As a first person shooter, Killzone Shadow Fall is the definition of average. Nothing other than the graphics really stood out to me. While this game doesn't rise above the rest of the pack, it plants enough seeds that lead me to believe the franchise's next effort will be better. That being said, if you are in the mood for a really good game for your new PlayStation 4, you can't go wrong with Infamous: Second Son.

Tales of Xillia

Ah Japanese RPG's, a staple of my gaming life. In Japan, the market is rife with such games (obviously that's why they're called JRPG's), but there's always been two major series among the countless titles in the genre: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. There's also always been one series following right behind those two, and that would be the Tales series. Starting way back on the Super Famicom with Tales of Phantasia in 1995, the series has spawned 14 games in the main series, and 9 offshoots. With the newest North American release, Tales of Xillia 2 upon us, I wanted to check out the original Tales of Xillia title for PS3. After playing through this game extensively and logging in nearly 50 hours, I am feeling primed and ready for the sequel.

The game starts with the option to play the game as either Jude Mathis, a soft spoken goody-good medical student, or the mysterious Milla Maxwell. This will affect certain cutscenes and even some playable events throughout the game. Regardless of who you choose, you'll end up meeting an ensemble of characters, 6 playable in all. These characters develop and grow throughout the entire game. I found myself even going back to previous towns just to check up on characters that had a role earlier in the story, and was rewarded with reunion cutscenes, something I haven't seen before. It really makes you feel as if the characters are alive after the main story has passed them by.

Story has always been a strong suit for the Tales series, and it keeps up in Xillia. The main quest line is a roller-coaster of ups and downs, surprises and twists. The game had me on the edge of my seat just trying to mentally prepare myself for what was coming next. The story moves at a quick pace, but not to the point where you'll find yourself asking "Wait, what am I supposed to do now?", and even if you do sidetracked, the game has an "Event List" in which you can get a brief summary on the story and everything that has happened so far. The story is truly gripping and consistently interesting.

One thing that makes the Tales series different from the other two franchises I mentioned above is the combat. It may look like the same thing you've seen in a typical Final Fantasy game, but it won't take you long to realize what's so fantastic about the battle system. When engaging an enemy, the screen transitions to what Tales calls a battle map, four party members are there to take part in combat, but here's the kicker, the combat plays out like an action beat em up game with RPG elements like abilities and items mixed in. The combat is smooth and exciting, and battles only last from about 10 seconds to a minute, so you won't get tired of fighting field monsters or grinding levels like you might in a traditional turn-based RPG.

Most people would prefer the good before the bad, so I'll start with the good: the sound. The sound in this game is absolutely top notch. From the voice acting to the sounds of Jude's fist-mashing into enemies to the soundtrack; the sound in this game is captivating and I loved every second of it. I can't say enough good things about the voice cast on this game as every character talks with the appropriate emotions, whether it be happy, silly, sad or angry - they all work perfectly. My favorite voice on the cast would have to be the elderly Rowen as he truly sounds like the gentleman he portrays on the screen.

Sadly, I cannot give the same praise to the graphics. While I understand that this game was released two years ago in Japan, I feel that they could have polished some of the in game textures and cleaned the game up a bit. Sometimes the mouths wouldn't match up to the words, and other times the animation felt a tad bit delayed. One thing I can say is that the game features great anime cutscenes in the heat of the story. Just when things get to their most intense, Xillia brings the cinematics with some powerful and beautiful animated cinematics. Even though the in game graphics aren't the best, I can say that some of the areas in this game are breathtaking. I found myself taking a step back just to look in awe of the landscapes pretty often. Overall, the graphics aren't horrible, but they're not great either.

The game features many things to do after you've beaten the game, from hidden side-bosses, side-quests, to Alfried Treasure's to collect. Even after completing the story, I've managed to put in an additional 15 hours into the game. One notable extra is the additional dungeon, Magnus Zero. Not only is it a whopping twenty floors, but after you beat the boss at the end, you have the opportunity to go through it again at a harder difficulty.

Tales of Xillia is a solid buy for any RPG fan, and even if you only have a passing interest in the genre, this game deserves at least a look. The game gives you what you pay for: a 45+ hour long story with tons of optional gameplay on top of that. Overall, this game is a welcome addition to the wonderful Tales series, and I can't recommend it enough. Look for it at your local Slackers today!